Letter to the Editor Formetric 4D RasterstereographyUniversity of Verona, Via Felice Casorati, No. ,...
3
Letter to the Editor Formetric 4D Rasterstereography Johnny Padulo 1 and Luca Paolo Ardigò 2 1 Tunisian Research Laboratory “Sports Performance Optimization”, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sport, 263 Tunis, Tunisia 2 School of Exercise and Sport Science, Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Via Felice Casorati, No. 43, 37131 Verona, Italy Correspondence should be addressed to Luca Paolo Ardig` o; [email protected] Received 27 August 2013; Accepted 20 March 2014; Published 31 March 2014 Academic Editor: Matteo Paci Copyright © 2014 J. Padulo and L. P. Ardig` o. is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. is paper is a comment on “Intra- and interday reliability of spine rasterstereography” [1]. We think that supporting the feasibility of using the rasterstereographic tool Formetric 4D, both as a diagnostic tool and in scientific research, requires much more scientific exactness. e purpose of this paper is to underline what we consider to be substantial omission or error. In research, validity is the extent to which a conclusion corresponds accurately to the reality. Differently, reliability is the overall consistency of a measure [2]. Validity means a high level of accuracy, while reliability means a high level of precision [3]. e conclusions of the paper are supported by the results in terms of reliability (“In conclusion, the present study reveals a good to great reliability of the DIERS Formetric 4D system depending on the typology of the measured parameter.”) but not in terms of validity [4–6] (“erefore, this study validated aspects of the rasterstereo- graphic measuring system that potentially could replace X- rays in follow-up of spinal deformities helping to reduce X- rays irradiation.”) [1]. A clarification should be done in this paper to better explain the state of the art about the topic described in this paper. In conclusion, “erefore, this study validated aspects of the rasterstereographic measuring system that potentially could replace X-rays in follow-up of spinal deformities helping to reduce X-rays irradiation” [1]. Discussion should provide only those conclusions that are supported by the study [7]. At present, Formetric 4D cannot be considered validated but only reliable. Further evidence-based research is necessary to support Formetric 4D effectiveness. We should verify the data from this study with caution before suggesting such a clear indication [8, 9]. Attention of clinical researchers should focus on patients’ needs. Patients deserve both examination validity and reliability, and reduced exposure to ionizing radiation. Firstly, a minimum acceptable examination validity and reliability level has to be established. en, researchers should investigate alternative methodolo- gies capable of achieving at least that specific level. Sound research on this topic is continuously needed. Conflict of Interests ere is no conflict of interests in this paper. References [1] L. Guidetti, V. Bonavolonta, A. Tito, V. M. Reis, M. C. Gallotta, and C. Baldari, “Intra- and interday reliability of spine raster- stereography,” BioMed Research International, vol. 2013, Article ID 745480, 5 pages, 2013. [2] W. G. Hopkins, “Measures of reliability in sports medicine and science,” Sports Medicine, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 1–15, 2000. [3] N. R. Carlson, W. Buskist, C. D. Heth, and R. Schmaltz, Psychol- ogy: e Science of Behaviour, Pearson Education, Ontario, Canada, 2009. Hindawi Publishing Corporation BioMed Research International Volume 2014, Article ID 315041, 2 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/315041
Transcript of Letter to the Editor Formetric 4D RasterstereographyUniversity of Verona, Via Felice Casorati, No. ,...
Letter to the EditorFormetric 4D Rasterstereography
Johnny Padulo1 and Luca Paolo Ardigò2
1 Tunisian Research Laboratory “Sports Performance Optimization”, National Center of Medicineand Science in Sport, 263 Tunis, Tunisia
2 School of Exercise and Sport Science, Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences,University of Verona, Via Felice Casorati, No. 43, 37131 Verona, Italy
Correspondence should be addressed to Luca Paolo Ardigo; [email protected]
Received 27 August 2013; Accepted 20 March 2014; Published 31 March 2014
Academic Editor: Matteo Paci
Copyright © 2014 J. Padulo and L. P. Ardigo. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons AttributionLicense, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properlycited.
This paper is a comment on “Intra- and interday reliability ofspine rasterstereography” [1]. We think that supporting thefeasibility of using the rasterstereographic tool Formetric 4D,both as a diagnostic tool and in scientific research, requiresmuch more scientific exactness. The purpose of this paper isto underline what we consider to be substantial omission orerror.
In research, validity is the extent to which a conclusioncorresponds accurately to the reality. Differently, reliabilityis the overall consistency of a measure [2]. Validity meansa high level of accuracy, while reliability means a high levelof precision [3]. The conclusions of the paper are supportedby the results in terms of reliability (“In conclusion, thepresent study reveals a good to great reliability of the DIERSFormetric 4D system depending on the typology of themeasured parameter.”) but not in terms of validity [4–6](“Therefore, this study validated aspects of the rasterstereo-graphic measuring system that potentially could replace X-rays in follow-up of spinal deformities helping to reduce X-rays irradiation.”) [1]. A clarification should be done in thispaper to better explain the state of the art about the topicdescribed in this paper.
In conclusion, “Therefore, this study validated aspectsof the rasterstereographic measuring system that potentiallycould replace X-rays in follow-up of spinal deformitieshelping to reduce X-rays irradiation” [1]. Discussion shouldprovide only those conclusions that are supported by thestudy [7]. At present, Formetric 4D cannot be considered
validated but only reliable. Further evidence-based researchis necessary to support Formetric 4D effectiveness.
We should verify the data from this study with cautionbefore suggesting such a clear indication [8, 9]. Attention ofclinical researchers should focus on patients’ needs. Patientsdeserve both examination validity and reliability, and reducedexposure to ionizing radiation. Firstly, aminimumacceptableexamination validity and reliability level has to be established.Then, researchers should investigate alternative methodolo-gies capable of achieving at least that specific level. Soundresearch on this topic is continuously needed.
Conflict of Interests
There is no conflict of interests in this paper.
References
[1] L. Guidetti, V. Bonavolonta, A. Tito, V. M. Reis, M. C. Gallotta,and C. Baldari, “Intra- and interday reliability of spine raster-stereography,” BioMed Research International, vol. 2013, ArticleID 745480, 5 pages, 2013.
[2] W. G. Hopkins, “Measures of reliability in sports medicine andscience,” Sports Medicine, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 1–15, 2000.
[3] N. R. Carlson,W. Buskist, C. D. Heth, and R. Schmaltz, Psychol-ogy: The Science of Behaviour, Pearson Education, Ontario,Canada, 2009.
Hindawi Publishing CorporationBioMed Research InternationalVolume 2014, Article ID 315041, 2 pageshttp://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/315041
2 BioMed Research International
[4] M.Mangone, P. Raimondi, M. Paoloni et al., “Vertebral rotationin adolescent idiopathic scoliosis calculated by radiograph andback surface analysis-based methods: correlation between theRaimondi method and rasterstereography,” European SpineJournal, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 367–371, 2013.
[5] J. Padulo and L. P. Ardigo, “Letter to the Editor concerning,”Vertebral rotation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis calculatedby radiograph and back surface analysis-based methods: corre-lation between the Raimondi method and rasterstereography,”European Spine Journal, vol. 22, no. 10, pp. 2336–2337, 2013.
[6] J. Padulo and L. P. Ardigo, “Formetric rasterstereography: a newperspective,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ofthe United States of America, 2014.
[7] J. Padulo, N. Maffulli, and L. P. Ardigo, “Signal or noise, a sta-tistical perspective,” Proceedings of the National Academy ofSciences of the United States of America, 2014.
[8] R. M. Rosenfeld, R. N. Shiffman, and P. Robertson, “ClinicalPractice Guideline Development Manual, Third Edition: a qua-lity-driven approach for translating evidence into action,” Oto-laryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, vol. 148, pp. S1–S55, 2013.
[9] R.N. Shiffman andA.Wright, “Evidence-based clinical decisionsupport,” Yearbook of Medical Informatics, vol. 8, pp. 120–127,2013.
Submit your manuscripts athttp://www.hindawi.com
Stem CellsInternational
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
MEDIATORSINFLAMMATION
of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Behavioural Neurology
EndocrinologyInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Disease Markers
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
BioMed Research International
OncologyJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
PPAR Research
The Scientific World JournalHindawi Publishing Corporation http://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Immunology ResearchHindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Journal of
ObesityJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine
OphthalmologyJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Diabetes ResearchJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Research and TreatmentAIDS
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Gastroenterology Research and Practice
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com Volume 2014
Parkinson’s Disease
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Volume 2014Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttp://www.hindawi.com
